Tractor and implement assembly

ABSTRACT

A tractor and driven implement assembly in which the tractor has a vertical crankshaft engine carried by an engine support frame. The support frame is carried on the tractor main frame by resilient mounts which isolate engine vibrations from the main frame. The engine crankshaft extends below the support frame and carries a pair of sheaves which are operatively connected to the tractor transmission and driven implement by endless flexible belts. The upper sheave is fixed to the crankshaft for rotation therewith, and the lower sheave is rotatably mounted on the crankshaft and is axially shiftable into selective engagement with the upper sheave for selective rotation therewith. An actuating lever is connected to a horizontal pivot carried by a bracket depending from the engine support frame and is operatively connected to the lower sheave to vertically shift the same into selective engagement with the upper sheave. A stationary brake member for the lower sheave also depends from the engine support frame and engages the lower sheave when the lower sheave is lowered from engagement with the upper sheave.

llnited States Patent John Gary Meylink; Robert James Bishop, both ofHoricon, Wis. [21] Appl. No. 856,926

[72] Inventors [22] Filed Sept. 9, 1969 [45] Patented Oct. 19, 1971 [73]Assignee Deere 81. Company Moline, Ill.

[54] TRACTOR AND IMPLEMENT ASSEMBLY Primary Examiner-A. Harry LevyAttorneys-l-l. Vincent Harsha, Harold M. Knoth, William A.

Murray, John M. Nolan and R. L. Hollister ABSTRACT: A tractor and drivenimplement assembly in which the tractor has a vertical crankshaft enginecarried by an engine support frame. The support frame is carried on thetractor main frame by resilient mounts which isolate engine vibrationsfrom the main frame. The engine crankshaft extends below the supportframe and carries a pair of sheaves which are operatively connected tothe tractor transmission and driven implement by endless flexible belts.The upper sheave is fixed to the crankshaft for rotation therewith, andthe lower sheave is rotatably mounted on the crankshaft and is axiallyshiftable into selective engagement with the upper sheave for selectiverotation therewith. An actuating lever is connected to a horizontalpivot carried by a bracket depending from the engine support frame andis operatively connected to the lower sheave to vertically shift thesame into selective engagement with the upper sheave. A stationary brakemember for the lower sheave also depends from the engine support frameand engages the lower sheave when the lower sheave is lowered fromengagement with the upper sheave.

PATENTEUum 1 9-1971 INVENTORS J. G. MEYL INK 8 TRACTOR AND IMPLEMENTASSEMBLY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION- The present invention relatesgenerally to a vibration-isolating mounting for an engine and PTOclutch, and more particularly relates to such a mounting for a verticalcrankshaft engine which is used on small vehicles such as lawn andgarden tractors and riding mowers. Due to the relatively light weight ofthe frame or chassis of lawn and garden tractors and riding mowers, theengine vibrations pass through the frame and cause great discomfort andfatigue for the operator. Therefore, it becomes necessary to isolate theengine vibrations from the frame. As illustrated in US. Pat. No.3,429,533, which issued to .I. R. Harkness on Feb. 25, 1969, thevibrations of a vertical crankshaft engine can be isolated from thevehicle frame by mounting the engine on resilient snubbers or mountswhich will prevent excessive engine motion and will absorb most of theengine vibrations. However, the aforementioned US. patent does not takeinto consideration that the engine will provide power for an implementsuch as a mower as well as for the tractor.

When a lawn and garden tractor is provided with a vertical crankshaftengine, any driven implements are usually powered directly from theengine crankshaft. It is therefore necessary to provide a combinationclutch and sheave for the driven implement. The combination clutch andsheave is mounted on the crankshaft for vertical movement and issupported and controlled by an actuating arm which is generally carriedby the tractor frame. Unless some means is provided for isolating thecombination clutch and sheave from the engine frame, the enginevibrations will be transmitted to the frame through the clutch actuatingarm.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is toprovide a tractor and driven implement assembly in which the tractor hasa vertical crankshaft engine with a PTO clutch and sheave mounted on thecrankshaft, and in which both the engine and the clutch-actuatingmechanism are resiliently mounted on the tractor frame so as tocompletely isolate engine vibrations from the engine frame.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a tractor anddriven implement assembly in which the tractor is provided with avertical crankshaft engine resiliently supported on the tractor frame byresilient mounts, in which a PTO clutch for the driven implement ismounted on the engine crankshaft, and in which an actuating arm for thePTO clutch is resiliently supported from the tractor frame by the sameresilient mounts which support the engine.

The above and additional objects and advantages will become apparentalong with the details of construction of the preferred embodiment ofthe invention from a reading of the following detailed description whentaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a tractor and implement assemblyaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a forward portion of the tractorillustrated in FIG. 1, parts being removed to illustrate the engine andits mounting;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the lines3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the lines 4-4 of FIG. 3and illustrates the construction of one of the motor mounts; and

FIG. 5 isan enlarged sectional view of the tractor and implement drivesheaves.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings,the tractor of the tractor and implement assembly is indicated generallyat 10 and the implement of the assembly takes the form of a mowerindicated generally at 12. The tractor includes a main frame or chassisconsisting of a pair of spaced longitudinally extending beams 14 and 16which are carried by rear traction wheels 18 and front steerable wheels20. The forward end of the frame beams 14 and 16 are maintained inspaced relationship by a spacer plate 22 which extends between and hasits opposite ends welded to the frame beams 14 and 16. The rear ends ofthe frame beams 14 and 16 are connected to and maintained in spacedrelationship by a box member 24 which houses a transmission 26.

An inverted elongated channel member 28 is mounted on and bridges themain frame beams 14 and I6 and forms a cover for various components ofthe tractor drive train. A pair of sidewalls 30 and an instrument panel(not disclosed) are mounted on the forward portion of the invertedchannel member 28 and support the rear portion of the tractor hood 32.The forward portion of the tractor hood is supported by a grill 34 whichis mounted on the extreme forward ends of the beams 14 and 16 by bolts36. A seat 38 and rear wheel fenders 39 are supported on the rear end ofthe inverted channel member 28. The tractor steering wheel 40 is mountedon a steering column 42 which extends downwardly through the instrumentpanel, between the sidewalls 30, and through the bight portion of theinverted channel member 28. A reduction gear unit 44 is mounted on thelower end of the steering column 42 and is secured to a bracket member46 which depends from the bight portion of the inverted channel member28. The reduction gear unit 44 drives a steering arm 48 which isconnected to the front steerable wheels by a steering rod 50.

A vertical crankshaft engine 52 is mounted between the frame beams 14and I6 and forwardly of the inverted channel member 28. The engine 52 ismounted on an engine support frame consisting of a bottom plate 54 and abackwall 56. A right-angle bracket 58 is secured to and extendsrearwardly from the backwall 56 of the engine support frame and issecured to the bracket 46 by a resilient mount 60. The mount 60 is bestillustrated in FIG. 4 and includes an annular member 62 which isconstructed of rubber or other suitable resilient material. The annularmember 62 is bonded to a metal ring 64 which is provided with a flangedend which forms a mounting shoulder 66. The ring 64 is inserted througha large opening provided in the bracket 46 and is secured thereto bybolts 68 which extend through the bracket 46 and mounting shoulder 66.The bracket 58 on the backwall 56 of the engine support frame is securedto the mount 60 by a bolt 70 which extends through the annular member 62and an aperture provided in the bracket 58. A ferrule 72 is positionedwithin the annular member 62 so that the bolt 70 can be tightenedwithout unduly compressing the resilient annular member 62.

The forward end of the bottom plate 54 of the support frame is bentupwardly at approximately a 45 angle to the horizontal to conform to theupper end of the spacer plate 22 and is supported on the spacer plate 22by a pair of transversely spaced resilient mounts 74 and 76. The mounts74 and 76 are identical to the mount 60 and are secured within openingsprovided in the spacer plate 22. The resilient mounts 60, 74 and 76constitute the sole support for the enginesupporting frame and thereforeany vibrations initiated by the engine 52 would be required to passthrough the resilient mounts prior to being passed on to the tractormain frame.

The crankshaft 78 of the engine 52 extends downwardly through a suitableopening provided in the engine support frame and carries a pair of upperand lower pulley members or sheaves 80 and 82. The upper pulley 80 iskeyed or otherwise fixed to the lower end of the crankshaft 78 forrotation therewith and is connected to the input sheave 84 of thetransmission 26 by first and second endless flexible belts 86 and 88.The belt 86 is trained around sheave 80 and extends back to and istrained around a double-sheave member 90'. The belt 88 extends betweenand is trained around the double-sheave member 90 and the transmissioninput sheave 84. A springloaded idler sheave assembly 92 normallymaintains the belt 88 in tension. Although not disclosed, the idlersheave assembly 92 is connected to a suitable clutch pedal so thatdepression of the pedal will move the idler sheave assembly 92 away fromthe belt 88 to relieve the tension therein. Also, to prevent loss oftension in the belt 86 due to engine vibrations, a suitablespring-loaded idler can be provided for the belt 86.

The lower sheave 82 functions as a PTO clutch and is rotatably mountedon the lower end of the crankshaft 78, and is also axially shiftablethereon into and out of engagement with the upper sheave 80 forselective rotation therewith. To this end, a bushing 94 is mounted onthe lower end of the crankshaft 78 and is retained in position thereonby a bolt 96 which extends into the end of the crankshaft 78. The sheave82 is provided with an upwardly open bore 98 which extends over thesleeve 94 and a plurality of roller bearings 100 are positioned betweenthe sleeve 94 and the wall of the bore 98. The sleever 94 and the wallof the bore 98 serve as inner and outer races for the bearings 100, butalso permit vertical movement of the sheave 82 relative to the lower endof the crankshaft 78.

In order to raise and lower the sheave 82, a fork member 102 is providedwith a short stub shaft 104 which is journaled in the lower end of thesheave 82. The legs of the fork member 102 are pivotally connectedintermediate the ends of an ac tuating lever 106 by a pin 108. Theforward end of the lever 106 is provided with a cross pin 110 whichextends through a horizontal slot provided in an ear 112 on the lowerend of a rigid bracket 114 which is secured to and depends from thebottom plate 54 of the engine support frame. The rear end of theactuating arm 106 is rigidly fixed to one end of a rod 116. The rod 116extends rearwardly and is provided with an elongated slot (undisclosed)at its rear end. The lower end of a control rod 118 extends to theelongated slot provided in the rod 116 and is retained in positionthereon by upper and lower nuts 120 threaded on the control rod 118. Thecontrol rod 118 extends upwardly and has an offset end portion 122 whichextends through a suitable opening provided in a crank arm 124 carriedon a shaft which is suitably journaled between the sidewalls 30. One endof the shaft carrying the crank arm 124 extends through the right-handsidewall 30 and is provided with a manual control lever 126. When thecontrol lever 126 is moved from the position illustrated in solid linesto the alternate position illustrated in dotted lines, the actuatinglever 106 is pivoted about the pin 110 to lower the sheave 82. When thelever 126 is returned to its solid line position, the lower sheave 82 israised. The elongated slot provided in the rear end of the rod 116 andthe slot provided in the ear 112 on the lower end of the bracket 114permit a small amount of Iongitudinal movement of the actuating lever106 so that it will not cause the lower sheave 82 to bind on the sleeve94.

The upper and lower sheaves 80 and 82 are provided with matching taperedsurfaces 128 and 130 respectively which move into engagement when thelower sheave is raised by actuation of the control lever 126 so that thelower sheave 82 is caused to rotate with the upper sheave 80. To provideadequate frictional engagement between the upper and lower sheaves, asuitable friction pad 132 is fixed to the tapered surface 128 on theupper sheave 80. When the sheave 82 is lowered by actuation of thecontrol lever 126, it moves into engagement with a friction pad 134carried by a bracket 136 depending from the bottom plate 54 of theengine support frame. The friction pad 134 constitutes a brake memberwhich quickly stops the rotation of the lower sheave 82 when the sheave82 is lowered, and also serves as a limit for the downward movement ofthe sheave 82. it should be noted that when the friction pad 134determines the limit of downward movement of the sheave 82, it alsodetermines the disengaged or dotted line position of the control lever126. The engaged or full line position of the control lever 126 isdetermined by a stop 138;. Upon raising the sheave 82, after it hascontacted the friction pad 132, the rod 116 will yield so that the crankarm 124 can move to an overcenter position and engage against the stopmember 138.

The lower sheave 82 is used to drive the mower 12, and to this end, anendless flexible belt 140 is trained about the sheave 82 and an inputsheave 142 on the mower. For the purpose of maintaining the belt 140tensioned so that it cannot be thrown off of either of the sheaves 82 or142 due to relative movement between tractor and mower, or due to enginevibration, the sheave 142 is spring loaded as is conventional withtractor-mounted mowers.

The mower 12 includes a housing 144 carried by front and rear wheels 146and 148. The wheels 146 and 148 serve to gauge the length of which thegrass is cut. The mower housing 144 is suspended from the tractor mainframe by front and rear parallel draft links 150 and 152 which havetheir lower ends pivotally connected to the mower housing and theirupper ends pivotally connected to suitable brackets 154 and 156 securedto the main frame beams 14 and 16. For the purpose of raising andlowering the mower, a rockshaft 158 is journaled between the legs of theinverted channel member 28 and is provided with crank arms 160 at itsopposite ends. The left-hand end of the rockshaft 158 is provided with amanual control lever 162. The crank arms 160 are provided with headedpins 164 which extend through keyhole slots 166 provided in the upperend of suspension links 168. The lower ends of the suspension links 168are pivotally connected to the rear draft links 152, so that operationof the manual control lever 162 raises and lowers the mower 12.

From the foregoing description, it can be seen that the presentinvention provides a tractor and driven implement assembly in which theengine vibrations are isolated from the tractor main frame and that thePTO clutch and its actuating mechanism are also isolated from thetractor means.

While a single preferred embodiment of the invention has been describedand illustrated, various modifications within the spirit and scope ofthe invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art and canbe made without departing from the underlying principles of theinvention.

We claim:

1. In a tractor-implement assembly, in which the tractor has a mainframe, traction means, and an engine having a vertical crankshaft and anengine frame, the improvement residing in the combination ofvibration-insulating engine mounts supporting the engine frame on thetractor frame for isolating engine vibrations from the tractor frame;upper and lower pulley members on the crankshaft relatively verticallyshiftable thereon to afford separate or unified rotation, meansaffording relative vertical adjustment of the pulley members includingan actuating member carried by the engine frame operatively connected torelatively shift the pulley members; and belt drive means extendingbetween the upper and lower pulleys and the tractor traction means andthe implement.

2. The assembly set forth in claim 1 wherein the means affordingrelative vertical adjustment of the pulley members includes a horizontalpivot carried by the engine frame, the actuating member including alever means carried on the pivot, and control means on the tractor foradjusting the lever means.

3. In a tractor and driven implement assembly in which the tractorincludes a main frame carried by traction means and a verticalcrankshaft engine mounted on an engine support frame, the improvementresiding in the combination of vibration-insulating mounts supportingthe engine support frame on the main frame for isolating enginevibrations from the main frame; first rotary drive means coupled to thecrankshaft for rotation therewith; second rotary drive means supportedon the crankshaft for axial shifting movement into and out of engagementwith the first rotary drive means for selective rotation therewith;means affording vertical adjustment of the second drive means includinga horizontal pivot carried by a pivot support mounted on the engineframe, lever means carried on the pivot and operatively connected to thesecond drive means, and control means on the tractor for adjusting thelever means; and first and second flexible drive means operativelyinterconnecting the first and second rotary drive means with thetraction means and the implement respectively 4. The assembly set forthin claim 3 wherein the first and second rotary drive means are providedwith cooperating friction surfaces which constitute a clutch meansbetween the first and second rotary drive means, the clutch means beingengaged when the second rotary drive means is axially shifted intoengagement with the first rotary drive means and disengaged when thesecond rotary drive means is axially shifted out of engagement with thefirst rotary drive means.

5. The assembly set forth in claim 4 further including brake means forthe second rotary drive means, the brake means including a rigid bracketsuspended from the engine support frame and having a friction surfaceengageable with the second rotary drive means when the clutch means isdisengaged.

6. A vehicle including a chassis carried by front and rear wheel means,platform means resiliently mounted on the chassis, an internalcombustion engine having a vertical crankshaft that projects downwardlyfrom the crankcase of the engine, the engine being rigidly mounted onthe platform means with the crankshaft projecting downwardly through anopening provided in the platform means, first sheave means mounted onthe crankshaft for rotation therewith, torque transmitting meansincluding an endless belt trained about the first sheave means drivinglyinterconnecting the first sheave means and rear wheel means, a frictionsurface on the lower portion of the first sheave means, a second sheavemeans mounted on the crankshaft below the first sheave means, the secondsheave means being mounted on the crankshaft for vertical and rotarymovement relative to the crankshaft, a friction surface on the upperportions of the second sheave means, a stub shaft journaled in thesecond sheave means and projecting downwardly therefrom, bracket meanssuspended from the platform means adjacent the first and second sheavemeans, an actuating arm having one end pivotally mounted on the lowerend of the bracket means and being pivotally connected intermediate itsends to the stub shaft, and means to raise and lower the actuating armabout its pivotal connection with the bracket means.

7. The vehicle set forth in claim 6 further including brake means forthe second sheave means, the brake means comprising second bracket meanssuspended from the platform means adjacent the second sheave means, thelower portion of the second bracket means extending generallyhorizontally beneath the second sheave means and having an upwardlyfacing friction surface engageable with a downwardly facing surface onthe second sheave means when the second sheave means is lowered.

1. In a tractor-implement assembly, in which the tractor has a mainframe, traction means, and an engine having a vertical crankshaft and anengine frame, the improvement residing in the combination ofvibration-insulating engine mounts supporting the engine frame on thetractor frame for isolating engine vibrations from the tractor frame;upper and lower pulley members on the crankshaft relatively verticallyshiftable thereon to afford separate or unified rotation, meansaffording relative vertical adjustment of the pulley members includingan actuating member carried by the engine frame operatively connected torelatively shift the pulley members; and belt drive means extendingbetween the upper and lower pulleys and the tractor traction means andthe implement.
 2. The assembly set forth in claim 1 wherein the meansaffording relative vertical adjustment of the pulley members includes ahorizontal pivot carried by the engine frame, the actuating memberincluding a lever means carried on the pivot, and control means on thetractor for adjusting the lever means.
 3. In a tractor and drivenimplement assembly in which the tractor includes a main frame carried bytraction means and a vertical crankshaft engine mounted on an enginesupport frame, the improvement residing in the combination ofvibration-insulating mounts supporting the engine support frame on themain frame for isolating engine vibrations from the main frame; firstrotary drive means coupled to the crankshaft for rotation therewith;second rotary drive means supported on the crankshaft for axial shiftingmovement into and out of engagement with the first rotary drive meansfor selective rotation therewith; means affording vertical adjustment ofthe second drive means including a horizontal pivot carried by a pivotsupport mounted on the engine frame, lever means carried on the pivotand operatively connected to the second drive means, and control meanson the tractor for adjusting the lever means; and first and secondflexible drive means operatively interconnecting the first and secondrotary drive means with the traction means and the implementrespectively
 4. The assembly set forth in claim 3 wherein the first andsecond rotary drive means are provided with cooperating frictionsurfaces which constitute a clutch means between the first and secondrotary drive means, the clutch means being engaged when the secondrotary drive means is axially shifted into engagement with the firstrotary drive means and disengaged when the second rotary drive means isaxially shifted out of engagement with the first rotary drive means. 5.The assembly set forth in claim 4 further including brake means for thesecond rotary drive means, the brake means including a rigid bracketsuspended from the engine support frame and having a friction surfaceengageable with the second rotary drive means when the clutch means isdisengaged.
 6. A vehicle including a chassis carried by front and rearwheel means, platform means resiliently mounted on the chassis, aninternal combustion engine having a vertical crankshaft that projectsdownwardly from the crankcase of the engine, the engine being rigidlymounted on the platform means with the crankshaft projecting downwardlythrough an opening provided in the platform means, first sheave meansmounted on the crankshaft for rotation therewith, torque transmittingmeans including an endless belt trained about the first sheave meansdrivingly interconnecting the first sheave means and rear wheel means, afriction surface on the lower portion of the first sheave means, asecond sheave means mounted on the crankshaft below the first sheavemeans, the second sheave means being mounted on the crankshaft forvertical and rotary movement relative to the crankshaft, a frictionsurface on the upper portions of the second shEave means, a stub shaftjournaled in the second sheave means and projecting downwardlytherefrom, bracket means suspended from the platform means adjacent thefirst and second sheave means, an actuating arm having one end pivotallymounted on the lower end of the bracket means and being pivotallyconnected intermediate its ends to the stub shaft, and means to raiseand lower the actuating arm about its pivotal connection with thebracket means.
 7. The vehicle set forth in claim 6 further includingbrake means for the second sheave means, the brake means comprisingsecond bracket means suspended from the platform means adjacent thesecond sheave means, the lower portion of the second bracket meansextending generally horizontally beneath the second sheave means andhaving an upwardly facing friction surface engageable with a downwardlyfacing surface on the second sheave means when the second sheave meansis lowered.